Rail-fastener



(No Model.)

B. PERRISS.

RAIL PASTENER.

No. 591,750.. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

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be adjusted to block up the track in the win- UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

BENJAMIN FERRISS, OF DECKERTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

RAlL-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 591,750, dated October 12, 1897.

Application filed May 5,1897- Serial No. 635,236. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN FERRISS, of Deckertown, in the county of Sussex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Fasteners and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in metallic ties or sleepers for railroad rail joints, and also to a peculiar construction of fastening by which the rails are secured, the object being to provide in a simple and inexpensive manner a fastening which shall be easily and quickly applied and which may ter time, rendering the whole much safer and preventing the destruction of the spikes.

The invention comprises certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the above and other important advantages are attained and whereby it is made simpler and otherwise better adapted for the purposes for which it is intended, as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel represents a perspective view. of a tie or sleeper constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is avert-ical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the spike used in connection with my invention to secure the rail to the tie or sleeper.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawlngs.

1 represents my improved metallic tie or sleeper, which is shown as a rectangular box arranged to lie transversely of the rail, being provided with openings: 2 to receive within them spikes 3.

The box 1 is provided with transverse walls 4, which lie adjacent to the openings 2 and form a substantial bearing-surface for the spikes when in place therein, and thespikes are provided with a series of teeth, which extend along the opposite side thereof, to engage with a spring-latch 5, arranged within a pocket 6, located at one side of the box 1.

The latch 5 is beveled at one end and engages the teeth of the spikes 3, and the opposite extremity is reduced to receive a spring 7, and which normally keeps the latch pressed forward into engagement with the teeth of the spike.

The box 1 is provided with an opening 8 directly above the pocket 6, and the purpose of this opening is to permit of any convenient tool or other implement being inserted to engage a depression within the latch and thus withdraw it from engagement with the teeth of the spikes and admit of its ready removal.

In practice the boxes are arranged transversely of the rail and are securely embedded in the ballast, after which the rails are placed in their proper position thereon and the spikes inserted within the openings 2, whereupon the spring-latches engage with the teeth thereof and securely hold the rails in place.

. At curved sections of the tracks I prefer to use a plate 9, which I screw to the box 1 in such a manner that oneedge of the said plate will bear against the flange of the rail and thus prevent a lateral movement thereof.

It will thus be seen that my invention provides in a simple and inexpensive manner a railroad-rail joint which may be quickly and easily applied in securing the rails in place, which does away with the use of driven spikes,

an operation difiicult to accomplish in cold weather, and which permits of the easy and quick blocking up of the track in winter time, as will be readily obvious to those skilled in the art.

Modifications may be made without departing from the essential features of my invention, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise details of construction herein shown and described, but

reserve the right to make such changes and alterations therein as may fairly fall within its spirit and scope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A railroad-rail tie comprising a box having openings arranged therein, spikes engaging the flanges of the rail and being provided with a series of teeth, and spring-latches arranged in pockets beneath the tops of the boxes adapted to engage the teeth of said pockets, one end being beveled to engage the teeth of the spikes, and the other end reduced to receive a spring, said latches being provided with depressions to receive a tool or other implement to Withdraw the latch from engagement with the teeth, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BENJAMIN FERRISS.

\Vitnesses:

JOHN D. SIMMONS, WINFIELD SCOTT MARTIN. 

